Cool stuff came in the mail today.....Pics inside..

[Oneslowz28]

I have not mentioned it yet but I am a GEEK..... Plain and simple I like geeky things... I mod computers, own 2 large telescopes, and paly around with electronic circuit bulding. I am also in the process of building a Reprap....

Well my main hobby in the winter is astronomy. I have 2 large dobsonian telescopes. (10" Orion XT10 Intelliscope and a 16" Meade lightbridge)

This summer I plan on building me a roll off roof observatory to house my scopes in and protect them from the elements when not in use. Right now I have to lug both of them to my observing spot and thats no fun as they weigh a good bit.

So on to what came in the mail..

I have a good friend who lives down in Houston and her aunt works for NASA. I mentioned the other week that I will be building an observatory this year and planned on decorating the inside with NASA and Shuttle images. Well UPS came knocking around 5 pm today and look what I found inside.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa7.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa8.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa3.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa2.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa1.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa6.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa5.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s187/CJGanttphotography/forum%20size/nasa4.jpg

Also in the box was a 20x30 framed picture of a night shuttle launch and a 20x30 framed picture of a shuttle day launch from fairly close.

So now I just need to get some prints made from some of the Hubble photos and I will be set on decorating the new observatory when its built.

Thanks for looking. I am so excited that I just had to geek out somewhere

[Vexxx_2007]

Glad to hear it!!
I use to be crazy into astronomy.
I never really got too much further into it after my parents divorced though..
But wowww, that's an awesome score!
I consider myself a geek too, every part of my computer lights up bright as day. My keyboard, mouse, case, USB ports, and i'm experimenting on putting some CCFLs into my monitor.
It's always good to share your geek with someone :)
particularly someone who is also a geek...

[Datech]

That is pretty cool! I always wanted to go into Aerospace Engineering so I figured I'd end up working for NASA or some defense contractor. Make sure you keep us updated on the progress of the observatory.

[Drum Thumper]

That is pretty cool! I always wanted to go into Aerospace Engineering so I figured I'd end up working for NASA or some defense contractor. Make sure you keep us updated on the progress of the observatory.

Agreed. I think a worklog will be in order!

Very cool swag! Have another rep bar while to go with it!

[Oneslowz28]

That is pretty cool! I always wanted to go into Aerospace Engineering so I figured I'd end up working for NASA or some defense contractor. Make sure you keep us updated on the progress of the observatory.

Well the observatory is dependent on my financial status at the end of the summer. If I build it I will be posting a full build log over on Cloudy Nights (http://www.cloudynights.com) The name is the same as it is here.



Glad to hear it!!
I use to be crazy into astronomy.
I never really got too much further into it after my parents divorced though..
But wowww, that's an awesome score!
I consider myself a geek too, every part of my computer lights up bright as day. My keyboard, mouse, case, USB ports, and i'm experimenting on putting some CCFLs into my monitor.
It's always good to share your geek with someone
particularly someone who is also a geek...

You should get back into it. If you want to refuel your love for astronomy join up over on Cloudy Nights (http://www.cloudynights.com). Its the largest astronomy community in the world with tens of thousands of members who post regularly ranging from beginners with $100 scopes to seasoned vets with $40k setup all the way to NASA Scientist that work at JPL (jet propulsion lab) Every one and I do mean every single person over there is kind and courteous and I have yet in 3 years to see a single argument or flame war get started.

[SgtM]

Thats some awesome swag! I used to be big into astronomy. Back in 85-86 when I was trying to see Haley's Comet. I remember getting up at the buttcrack of dawn to see it. Here's a shot you'll enjoy. Shot with my Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 on a tripod.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2407684308_4a1ff93b82_b.jpg

+rep

[KiLLERMAN21]

Holy damn SgtM, thats an awesome pic! Definately need a worklog of the build if you end up doing it. +rep

[SgtM]

Thanks Killer. Here's the full size if you want it. 3264*2448
http://sgtm.site90.net/images/DSC01101.JPG

[Spawn-Inc]

and i'm experimenting on putting some CCFLs into my monitor.

but your monitor already has some :) there just white.



i was looking at that cloudy nights site and wow all that i looked through went completely over my head. i was looking through the sig's at the difference stuff people had. interesting but not my thing.

[xmastree]

was looking at that cloudy nights site and wow all that i looked through went completely over my head.
Clouds usually do that...
:rolleyes:

[Twigsoffury]

wooo astrophotography!!!

heres my small collection i've been assembling night by night.

http://i43.tinypic.com/34ioc52.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/jjpoqw.jpg
this one is blurry but it looks cool
http://i39.tinypic.com/2883zvb.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/10qb4bd.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/2z7hkm0.jpg

I can have as much fun lookin through a telescope as shooting zombies down on left 4 dead. Not really a Super Telescope nerd. But I've got a couple nice ones.

Ever sit there and watch the geo sync orbit sattilittes travel across?

totally awsome when the moon passes behind you can see 2 or 3 satts pass by every 10 seconds. Hauling ass to. I've seen a couple clear enough for the solor panels to be seen sticking out of either side along with antennas and such.

[SgtM]

Those are awesome shots! Can't say I've ever seen a sat through a scope. Would be cool to see though.

+rep Twigs.

[Liquid_Scope_99]

hey great score one the stuff iwas big into NASA and astronomy myself
cant wait till ou start your building man +rep

[Twigsoffury]

Those are awesome shots! Can't say I've ever seen a sat through a scope. Would be cool to see though.

+rep Twigs.




Heres The Video also has some video of jupiter

FKvckrq0fvc

waiting for saturn to come back into view right now. either that or I just can't find it. but I doubt that.

[crenn]

I wish I could manage to take decent pictures with my camera. Anyone got any tips with using a digital camera?

[nevermind1534]

Use the lowest ISO possible (usually 80), although that will require that you use a longer shutter speed. Use a tripod or set the camera on some surface that won't move, if you have a manual mode, use a smaller (larger number) aperture for a greater depth of field. That will also require a longer shutter speed.

[crenn]

I can have upto 8 seconds on this digital camera, just I don't actually have a tripod, which probably is my biggest problem.

[Twigsoffury]

I wish I could manage to take decent pictures with my camera. Anyone got any tips with using a digital camera?

take your camera shots like your shooting a rifle.

i just hold the camera upto the lens. The Light off the moon is bright enough for daytime settings.

Saturn and other planets its better to take video then sample Frames out of that.

if its distant or dim you can super impose multiple frames over one another to make a overall brighter and more detailed image..

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4343/zhumell12th7.jpg

[SgtM]

What is that an 8" scope? Mine's small.. maybe 80 mm. I'd have to measure it to tell you for sure though. The problem I have is my camera lens is larger than the eyepiece for the scope. My moon shots are just with the camera mounted on a tripod and zoomed in (Cybershot DSC-H7, 8.1 megapx, 15x optical zoom).

[Twigsoffury]

What is that an 8" scope? Mine's small.. maybe 80 mm. I'd have to measure it to tell you for sure though. The problem I have is my camera lens is larger than the eyepiece for the scope. My moon shots are just with the camera mounted on a tripod and zoomed in (Cybershot DSC-H7, 8.1 megapx, 15x optical zoom).

Oh its the DSLR or the one with the interchangable lenses?

They sell for a very reasonable price adapters so that the camera mounts right into the slot for the eyepiece.

you'll need to figure out your size.

what sort of mount do you use?

I like dobsonians Because of the image clarity. it's like peeking through a hole at a High Dev plasma screen. they gather so much light that anywhere you point them you see stars. But the mounts and tracking overall fails. but you know dobs are #1 with me.

I've got a equtorial mount 900mm Tasco from the early 90's. it's actually really Bad ass for the price It got gotten for. I had to take it apart and use some Crazy cleaner to get the lens back to what they should be. but its nice.

Tasco styles are Great for just general looking around. Seems to work better then the dob i have for looking at the moon. I'm waiting for it to pass in front of the window at the moment. I've got one window thats perfect for sticking a telescope out of.

Sure would love a shed like a draw back roof.

Back in the day I knew a Teacher with a really nice set up for its time. He attached a CCD to a lens and just ran that to a computer. worked really good. he had one of those motorized mounts.

anyways top notch.

Space trash is also awsome to see.

[Mitternacht]

Not a big pic, but it is the moon during the last lunar eclipse over the Atlantic Coast.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/gigaglytch/DSCN2110.jpg

[Twigsoffury]

whooooaaa.



thats cool man

[Oneslowz28]

I have a 10" Orion XTI Dob, 16" Meade light bridge and a 100mmOrion apo Refractor on a GEM. I would post some pics but they are out at my mothers house in a shed beside my viewing spot. Next time I am out there I will take some pics.

Nice Astro Photos guys.

Oh and that looks like a Z10 in that photo.

[SgtM]

Oh its the DSLR or the one with the interchangable lenses?

They sell for a very reasonable price adapters so that the camera mounts right into the slot for the eyepiece.

you'll need to figure out your size.

what sort of mount do you use?


I wish it was a DSLR. Here's my review of the camera (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14750).

What the camera looks like:
http://www.techfresh.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/sony_cybershot_dsc-h7_5.jpg


Mount? I'm not sure what you mean.

[Eclecticos]

Great video of the moon, and Jupiter. I have never seen it so close up before.
Do you have some sort of adapter to attach your camera to your
telescope or do you just hold it to the viewfinder?

[Oneslowz28]

If you have a DSLR you need a t-ring adapter and a draw tube that will fit in the telescopes focuser.

The t-ring adapter for my 30D cost something like 10 bucks and the draw tube was $15 I think.

You can do eyepiece projection photography and use a special mount that screws into your tripod mount hole and then mounts to your scope. This is a bit trickier as it requires precision alignment with the center of the lens to the center of the eyepiece and also requires exact placement of the lens from the eyepiece. This mount is a bit more expensive @ around $40 but it will work with most cameras that have a 1/4" threaded hole for mounting a tripod. Orion telescopes sells these.

[Twigsoffury]

If you have a DSLR you need a t-ring adapter and a draw tube that will fit in the telescopes focuser.

The t-ring adapter for my 30D cost something like 10 bucks and the draw tube was $15 I think.

You can do eyepiece projection photography and use a special mount that screws into your tripod mount hole and then mounts to your scope. This is a bit trickier as it requires precision alignment with the center of the lens to the center of the eyepiece and also requires exact placement of the lens from the eyepiece. This mount is a bit more expensive @ around $40 but it will work with most cameras that have a 1/4" threaded hole for mounting a tripod. Orion telescopes sells these.



Mount? I'm not sure what you mean.
What he said.

[Oneslowz28]

ep projection mount from orion works with most cameras.
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=photo_accessories/~pcategory=astro-imaging/~product_id=05228

slr specific stuff

t-ring
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=photo_accessories/~pcategory=astro-imaging/~product_id=A0317

draw tube
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=photo_accessories/~pcategory=astro-imaging/~product_id=A0321